NBA Summer League is BACK!

Twitter: @GGirlSports. 

The 2023 NBA Summer League is finally underway after a busy free agency week.  There are a total of five games tonight, although we will be focusing on the Miami Heat vs. Los Angeles Lakers.  The Lakers had a fantastic free agency, and the Heat continue to wait on Damian Lillard. The two teams will play tonight at 6 PM EST, at the Golden 1 Center, located in Sacramento, California. Also, if you’re looking to watch or bet on the game, it will air on ESPN2.  If you are looking for the best betting odds and stats, here is information to know.

Future 2023-2024 NBA Championship Odds:

*Odds courtesy of DraftKings*

Miami Heat: +900Los Angeles Lakers: +1200

NBA Summer League

*Odds courtesy of DraftKings*

Heat: +120Lakers: -140Over/Under: 163Spread: -2.5 Lakers

Heat Summer League Roster

Position                         Height          Weight           Age              School                     Acquired(F)Nikola Jovic                6-11               225 lbs.           20                                                 #27 Pick 2022(F)Jamal Cain                  6-7                 205 lbs.           24                 Oakland                  Signed 7/15/22.(G)Dru Smith                  6-3                 200 lbs.           25                 Missouri                  Signed 7/1/23.(F) Jamie Jaquez Jr.         6-7                 220 lbs.          22                 UCLA                        #18 2-23(C) Orlando Robinson     6-11               245 lbs.          22                 Fresno St.                Signed 7/6/22.(G) Jamaree Bouyea        6-2                 180 lbs.          24                 San Fran                  Signed 7/1/23.(G) Justin Powell             6-6                 200 lbs.           22                 Washington St.(G) Chase Audige            6-4                200 lbs.           24                 Northwestern(G) Caleb Daniels            6-4                210 lbs.           24                 Villanova(G) Trenton Massner       6-2                175 lbs.           23                 Western Illinois(G) Alondes Williams      6-4                205 lbs.           25                 Wake Forest(F)Drew Peterson            6-9                205 lbs.           24                 USC(F) Taylor Funk                6-9                220 lbs.           26                 Utah State(F)Ja’von Franklin            6-7                210 lbs.           24                 Georgia Tech(C)Bradon McCoy           7-0                250 lbs.           26                 UNLV(C)Patrick Gardner          6-11              250 lbs.           24                 Marist

Roster courtesy of the NBA

Lakers Summer League Roster

Position                             Height         Weight            Age             School                     Acquired(G)Max Christie                   6-5                190 lbs.             20               Michigan State        #35 Pick 2022(G)Jalen- Hood Schifino      6-6               215 lbs.             20               Indiana                    #17 Pick 2023(G)Scotty Pippen Jr.             6-1               185 lbs.             22               Vanderbilt                Signed 7/1/22.(F) Maxwell Lewis                6-7               205 lbs.             20               Pepperdine               from DEN(F) Cole Swider                    6-9               220 lbs.             24               Syracuse                   Signed 7/1/22.(C) Colin Castleton              6-11             231 lbs.             23               Florida(F) Alex Fudge                     6-8               189 lbs.             20               Florida(G) Damion Baugh               6-4               194 lbs.            22               TCU(F) LG Figueroa                    6-6               200 lbs.            25                Oregon(C) Sacha Killeya-Jones        6-11             220 lbs.            24                Kentucky(F) Paris Bass                        6-8               200 lbs.            27                Detroit Mercy(G)Bryce Hamilton               6-4                205 lbs.           22                UNLV(G) D’Moi Hodge                 6-4                185 lbs.           24                Missouri

Heat Players to Watch Nikola Jovic (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

2022-2023 NBA Season:  5.5 PPG | 2.1REB | 0.5 STL | 0.1 BLK | 94.7 % FT | 22.9 % 3PT | 40.1% FG.

Nikola Jovic was the 27th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft and has a chance to show the Heat why they drafted him. Although Jovic only has 15 career games under his belt due to a back stress reaction, he impressed last year in summer league.  We saw him score 25 points and drained three’s last summer against the Warriors and has gained size in the offseason.

Although the Heat wait on star Damian Lillard, it’s highly unlikely they will trade Center Bam Adebayo if they do acquire Lillard. With the resigning of Kevin Love, Jovic will certainly have some competition against Orlando Robinson and Thomas Bryant.  

The Heat anxiously await the development of their Serbian center, who has excellent basketball IQ, and is a potential three-level scorer.  With the loss of Gabe Vincent and Max Strus, Miami will need more shooting power, along with big men to back up Adebayo. 

Jamie Jaquez Jr.   (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)

2022-2023 College Season: 17.8 PPG | 8.2 REB | 1.5 STL | 0.6 BLK | 77 % FT | 31 % 3PT | 48% FG.

The Heat shocked the world when they drafted UCLA Star Jamie Jaquez Jr. 17th overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.  Led by Head Coach Erik Spoelstra, the Heat have an amazing system when it comes to the development of rookies and undrafted players.  Jaquez has great size and is a force on the defensive end.  In addition, he played all four years for UCLA, and now has the chance to develop under an elite system created by Pat Riley and Erik Spoelstra.

He is an extremely hard-working individual who will fit in well with the system, and he brings elite perimeter defense to this Miami team.  Jaquez Jr. averaged more than 1 steal a game and has excellent footwork and passing skills. The Heat averaged the least number of points per game last season, and Jamie Jaquez Jr. is NBA ready, and could most likely play and guard multiple positions.

Lakers Players to Watch Jalen Hood-Schifino  (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

2022-2023 College Season: 13.5 PPG | 4.1 REB | 0.8 STL | 0.3 BLK | 77 % FT | 33 % 3PT | 45 % FG.

All eyes will be on the rookie this summer. 

Jalen-Hood-Schifino was drafted 17th overall in the 2023 NBA draft by the Lakers, and last played for Indiana.  Although the Lakers have a tremendous amount of talent and depth in their backcourt, Hood-Schifino could find a spot in the rotation, especially if he impresses this summer. Initially the selection of Hood-Schifino was a surprise for many Lakers fans, but here’s what we need to watch for:

Hood-Schifino only had one season in collegiate basketball and needs some development in his game.  He’s on the taller side for a guard, and we saw him play hard defense, especially in the NCAA Tournament.  Although he needs to work on his three-point shot Hood-Schifino excels with the mid-range jumper and is capable of guarding multiple positions due to his size.  He also has the ability to get to the basketball and facilitate the ball.  It will be fun to watch him tonight.  

Max Christie (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

2022-2023 NBA Season: 3.1 PPG | 1.8 REB | 0.2 STL | 0.2 BLK | 87.5 % FT | 41.9 % 3PT | 41.5 % FG.

Max Christie was selected as the 35th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft out of Michigan State. Although Christie didn’t play many minutes, and averaged low numbers, it’s time to watch how he produces in summer league.  There are rumors Max Christie added some weight in the off season and could be a serviceable guard in the NBA.  Also, the Lakers recently added a variety of talent in free agency, however, that doesn’t mean Christie couldn’t earn a rotation spot. With Schroder and Lonnie Walker IV gone in free agency, the door could open for Christie.

The Lakers ranked 27th in the league in three-point shooting last season and can use all the help they can get.  Poised to make a playoff run, Christie shot 66.7 percent from the field in three games against Denver and averaged 7.3 Points.  It’s important to note, he averaged 7.3 points in only 15 minutes averaged per game.  Although Christie struggled from the three in the playoffs, he’s a career 41.9 percent three-point shooter, and is an excellent shooter from the line.  The Lakers signing Gabe Vincent, Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Rusell, and Cam Reddish will most likely make it near impossible for Christie to get minutes. It’s his time to shine and show what he can bring to the NBA in his second year.

Predictions:

 With the Damian Lillard trade talks going on, it is not certain Jamie Jaquez Jr. or Nikola Jovic will be on the roster if the Heat acquire him.   However, this is their chance to prove themselves to the organization and the rest of the league.  For the Lakers, we will see rookie Jalen Hood-Schifino show why he belongs in the NBA, and what he can bring to the team. 

I like the Lakers here, who have an abundance of talent, including Jalen Hood- Schifino and Scotty Pippen Jr., Max Christie, and Cole Swider. I think this game will be close, and I have the Lakers at -2.5.  I’m unsure of the money line since it’s the first game of the summer league, and we are unsure how much each star will play.  I’ll take the OVER here, since summer league is short, and this is the time for these players to show case their talents.  

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Sara Jane is a full-time content creator, focusing on both college basketball, the NBA, NFL, and writer of Ballislife.com. Don’t forget to follow her on Twitter/YouTube/Kick/Twitch/Instagram: @GGirlSports.

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